Chance on You (Pub 4)

27 - Autumn

Leo had been hammering out a deal all day. Matthew met with the screenplay writer while Leo charged and retreated and charged again. He pinched between his eyes.

"It will take years to complete the first three we offered. We already conceded on the merchandise. We retain the right to existing inventory, but nothing else. You can sell whatever you want for the first three books. Make Happy Meal toys if that's what you want." Leo knew the end of production would make the figurines more valuable. The studio's toys would look like the actors.

The studio lawyer nodded. "We can agree to that."

"And the first three stories." Thankfully, Imogen hadn't sold full rights to Roche-Sumner or he would never have been able to shop a deal."

Percy sighed. "Fine. I want the standard option of eighteen-month for the first, thirty-six for the second. We can all do the math."

Leo smirked. "Fifty-four." It wasn't time to smile yet. "Film and merch only. Publisher has print and we're not interested in giving up anymore."

Percy pushed. "Electronic." Matthew did want to include video games.

"No! Not happening. Film and Happy Meal toys."

Percy sighed. "Then it can't resemble our actors. It's a two-way street."

"Fine. Creative collaboration?"

Percy pounded his fist on the table. "Studio has creative control. Matthew can consult, but our writer, director, and everyone in between down to the lighting gaffe have final say."

Leo stood. "Let me talk with my client."

He slowly stood. As he walked out of the room, he heard whispering behind him. So far he got everything he wanted including the nice round numbers thrown around.

He found Matthew alone looking at his phone. Leo shut the door. There were ears everywhere. "They won't budge on the creative. You can hang around, but they can veto you."

Matthew frowned. "Bloody hell, we tried."

"It never happens. Seriously, do you think Rick wanted Lightning Thief to turn out the way it did?"

Matthew smirked and held up his phone. "I could ring him and ask."

Leo laughed. "I got everything else."

"How many books?"

"Three. They have eighteen months with the first one. Are you okay giving up your toys?"

Matthew nodded. "Yeah. I was excited, but hell it's been a few years."

Leo frowned. A few years felt like a lifetime. Shaking his thought away, he squeezed Matthew's shoulder. "Do you want to do this?"

"I trust you, Leo."

He nodded and returned to the tense room. "Okay." He looked at Percy. "What's still outstanding?"

A lawyer said, "Advertising."

Leo sighed as they hashed out the details. He was exhausted when he shook hands with the lawyers. He held his hand to Percy, and he shook it tightly. "You still got it "

"I told you I got nothing left to lose."

Percy shook his head. "Not true. You have Riley and Cody."

Leo smiled. He was ready to call them. They had finished a day early, but he had some clients he wanted to see before he flew out on Thursday night. He would send a few texts and call his kids. He was kidding himself that he wouldn't go back one more time, so he would say goodbye to Autumn.